Chapter 9 I excused myself from the room, left Rufus slumped in that chair and my husband hovering by his father's bedside. They could drown in their pity. I had business to finish. My heels clicked down the sterile corridor until I reached the canteen. Mateo was already there, waiting like a trained dog. He didn't even sit, just leaned against the wall, eyes sharp but nervous. When I approached, he bent his head and whispered. "It's done, Mrs. Anderson. Annette's gone. Shot in Paris, just like you wanted." A wave of satisfaction rolled through me. Finally, that stupid orphan girl who thought she could walk into my family, steal my son's loyalty, embarrass me in front of my friends-she was nothing but ash now. I remembered the first time the mockery began. A dinner party, crystal glasses clinking, my friends draped in jewels. One of them leaned across the table, her lips red as blood. "Your son married that girl? The orphan? My God, Margaret, how humiliating for the Andersons. I didn't think your family was that desperate." Laughter rippled around the table, sharp as broken glass. I kept my smile in place, but inside, I burned. They weren't laughing at Annette. They were laughing at me. The memory slid into another. A luncheon on the terrace, sunlight spilling over our white dresses. One of the women, always vicious behind her soft hands, tilted her sunglasses down. "She doesn't even know which fork to use, does she? Sweet, but... provincial. Imagine introducing her at the clubs. She's a doll, Margaret, not a wife." The rest chimed in, their voices like birds picking at carrion. I sipped my champagne, my nails cutting into my palm beneath the tablecloth. That doll had already sunk her claws into my son. And then the last flash, darker, crueler. A gala night, chandeliers raining light, Maisie radiant beside me. My oldest friend-if you could call her that-leaned in with a smirk. "Look at her trying to keep up in that gown. Pretty, yes, but poor is poor. A stray dog dressed in silk is still a stray. You should have stopped Rufus before he embarrassed you, Margaret. But I suppose he always had a weakness for cheap things." The laughter swelled again, and this time I excused myself, smiling like it didn't matter. But in the bathroom mirror, I swore I would destroy Annette, The memories faded, but the bile they left remained. It was never just about Annette. It was about what she made me... weak, laughed at, pitied. I would rather carve her out of this world than let anyone see me small. "Good," I murmured, fixing my jacket sleeve. "Finally, no more distractions. She won't crawl back. She won't ruin my family's name again." Mateo watched me for a beat too long, and then he asked, "Why do you hate her so much? She wasn't... dangerous. Just quiet. Loyal to Boss Rufus. Why not let her stay?" I turned my head slowly, smiled at him like a knife. "Hate? No, Mateo. I loathed her. That little 11:36 am nothing walked into my house and thought being a pretty, obedient wife was enough. Do you know how many nights I had to endure the whispers? My friends were laughing behind their glasses of wine, saying, 'The Andersons let their heir marry an orphan girl with no family, no connections, no pedigree.' She made us look weak. Poor. Pathetic." I stepped closer, close enough for him to smell my perfume. "Maisie is from a family of old money. She has the manners, the lineage, the influence. She is the only woman fit to carry the Anderson bloodline. Not Annette. Never Annette." He shifted, clearly uneasy. "But... what if Boss Rufus ever finds out you paid that rival gang to kill her? He worshipped her once. If someone tells him the truth..." I tilted my head, letting the cruelty seep into my voice. "You'll never speak of this again. If you do, Mateo, I'll blame everything on you. Every photo, every file, every gun pulled in Paris. And your sister-fashion school, isn't she? Milan? Such a dreamer. It would be a shame if she was buried before her first runway show." His face went pale. His mouth opened, then shut. He swallowed his fear and nodded, just once. The leash around his throat tightened exactly as I wanted. I turned, smoothing my skirt, and walked away like we'd only discussed the weather. As I headed back to Maisie's room, I let myself savor the memory of every step I'd taken to break Annette down. Paying photographers to stage those filthy photos of her wrapped around random men. Bribing accountants to forge those documents, making it look like nine hundred million had disappeared straight through her company. Telling Mateo the exact moment to slip those files into Rufus's hands-right when his heart was already weak from Maisie's tears. All of it flawless. My son believed his wife was nothing but a whore and a thief. ... When I entered the hospital room again, I wore a different mask. The cold vanished. I softened my face, and gently glanced at my eyes. Maisie was lying there, pale, fragile, the perfect picture of a woman needing protection. I moved to her side and sat carefully on the bed. I took her hand in mine, stroked it like a mother would. "My dear," I whispered, my voice warm honey, "everything is going to be fine now. Annette is gone. No one can hurt this family anymore. We must protect the baby. That is what matters now." Maisie's lips trembled, and she pressed my hand tighter. Perfect. Exactly where I wanted her. Title: After Breakup, Spoiled by Three Big Shot Brothers (English-dubbed) On the brink of her wedding, she faces heartbreak as her fiancé calls it off. However, fate takes a surprising turn at the engagement celebration when three influential brothers unveil her true identity as their long-lost sibling. Uncovering her hidden wealth, she navigates a whirlwind of emotions amidst the complexities of family ties and newfound affluence. Immerse yourself in this captivating tale of love, family bonds, and self-discovery in a backdrop of modern romance and office drama. With its blend of billionaire allure and sweet relationships, this ongoing story sets itself apart with its engaging narrative and dynamic character interactions. Discover the intriguing twists and turns that await in this unique saga, available to read at CrushReel for those craving an unforgettable literary journey.